Bending-roll apparatus



Aug.. 24 M26., LSSBZLQE E. T. FERNGREN BENDING ROLL APPARATUS Filed Des. 4. 1924 I6 ATT EIRNE'Y.

Patented Au'g. 24, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

k',ENOCH T. FERNGREN, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE LIBBEY-OWENS SHEET GLASS COMPANY, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

BENDING-R0LL APPARATUS.

Application :filed December 4, 1924. Serial No. 753,790.

The present invention relates to sheet glass drawing apparatus, and has particular reference to means for preventingthe sag of the sheet being drawn in a continuous drawing operation.'

In the machine disclosed by Colburn Patent 1,218,809, granted December 4, 1917, a sheet of glass is continuously drawn from a mass of molten glass in a vertical position, after which it is bent over a bending roll and passed in a horizontal position over a attening table and through an annealing leer. This construction is well-known in the art.

An object of this invention is to overcome the tendency of the sheet to sag afterit has been bent over the bending roll from a vertical to a horizontal plane.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for overcoming or preventing the natural tendency of the glass sheet to sag after it has been bent from a vertical to a horizontal plane without in any way destroying or marring the surfaces of the sheet being acted upon.

A still further object of the invention is to provide means of this nature which can he'adjusted so that it may be adapted for use for the various thicknesses of sheets which are ordinarily drawn by the process. Still another object of the invention is to provide means fora continuous sheet drawing apparatus wherein the sheet is bent from a vertical to a horizontal plane, and includes means wherein the sheet is placed under a slight tension to prevent sagging thereof after the bending operation.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following description.

In the drawings wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same.

F ig. l i5 a fragmentary perspective view,

partly in section, illustrating the device in use, and.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal section through the apparatus.

In the drawings wherein for the purposes of illustration is shown the preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral 5 designates a sheet of glass which may be drawn in accordance with any of the wellknown forms of apparatus. The sheet 5 is jrosive alloy rolls 9.

in contact therewith during the bending process. The sheet 5 is designated by the numeral 7 in its 'horizontal run. Normally as is set forth in the Colburn process, after the sheet 5 is bent o ver the bending roll, it passes over a so-called idler roll which is spaced a substantial distance from the said bending roll. Usually to facilitate bending of the sheet without injury a gas flame or the like 8 is played upon the surface of the glass. It has been found that the sheet in the present form of apparatus now in use sags between the bending roll G and the idler roll which has already been described.

To overcome this natural tendency of the sheet 7 from sagging between the idler and bending rolls, I preferably substitute for the present form of idler roll a'plurality of smaller preferably highly polished non-cor- The sheet 7 passes over the flattening table 10 driven bythe drum 11.

In addition to substituting the smaller rolls 9 for the idler rolls now in use I employ an apparatus for creating what may be termed a negative air pressure upon the upper surface of the sheet 7. This construction preferably comprises a plurality of chambers 12 having connection with a compartment 13 disposed above the said chambers as is shown in the drawings. The lower end of the chambers 12 are open. The upper ends of the chambers which have communication with the chamber 13 are controlled by an adjustable valve, 1l. The valve may be operated by means on screwthreaded shaft 15, being threaded through the casting forming the chamber 13.

The chamber 13 which communicates with the compartments l2 is connected to the pipe 16 which is in turn connected to any form of apparatus adapted for creating suction.

As is shown the various compartments 12 are separated, thus leaving a passageway 17 open at its sides and ends, the sides of which may be regulated by the adjust-able plates 18 which are held in the desired adjustment by thumb nuts or bolts 19.

In operation the machine having connection with the pipe 18 creates a suction which withdraws air from near the surface of the sheet through the compartments 12. This relieves the atmospheric pressure normally present above the sheet after it has passed over the bending roll G, and in addition the suction may be of such a nature that it will have a slight lifting effect upon the sheet to neutralize the natural sagging thereof. In this manner by controlling the suction action by means of the valve la and plates 18, any thickness of sheet may be held in substantially a horizontal plane afteri it has been passed over the bending roll as has been pointed out.

It is not necessary that the idler roll be substituted for by the smaller rolls 9, as the apparatus just described can be used in conjunction with the Colburn process as described with good results. p

As is shown in Fig. 2 a second roll 2O is brought into contact with the sheet during its vertical run, and contacts with the sheet 5 at the same point that the sheet 5 first contacts with the roll 6. rIhe roll 2O is preferably formed from a highly polished alloy and is adapted to iron out any irregularities which may be presentin the sheet before it is passed over the bending roll.

Disposed above the bending roll 6 is a third roll 21 which contacts with the sheet 7 to give tension thereto, thereby assisting the suction device in preventing the sheet from sagging after it has passed over the bending roll. The roll 21 is adapted to give ltension to the sheet, but it is not of such a nature that it will scratch or otherwise cause defects in the surface of the sheet. Furthermore, this roll will act as a fulcrum, thus preventing the sheet from following the roll.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as thel preferred embodiment of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Claims:

1. In sheet glass drawing apparatus, means for drawing a sheet from a source of molten glass, means for detiecting the sheet from a vertical to a horizontal plane, and

means for reducing the air pressure above the sheet to preventsagging thereof.

2. In sheet glass drawing apparatus, means for drawing a sheet from a source of molten glass, means for deflecting the sheet from a vertical to a horizontal plane, and means arranged above the sheet for relieving the air pressure above said sheet.

3. In sheet glass drawing apparatus, means for drawing a sheet from a source of molten glass, means for bending the sheet from a vertical plane to a horizontal plane, and means arranged above the sheet and out of Contact therewith for creating a negative air pressure.

4. In sheet glass drawing apparatus,

means for drawing a sheet from a source of molten glass, means for bending the sheet from a vertical plane to a horizontal plane, and means for creating a suction above the sheet to counteract the tendency thereof to sag.

5. In sheet glass drawing apparatus, means for drawing a sheet from a source of molten glass, means for bending the sheet from a vertical plane to a horizontal plane, and means arranged above the sheet and out of contact therewith for creating a negative air pressure to counteract the tendency of the sheet to sag.

6. In sheet glass apparatus wherein a sheet of glass is moved in a horizontal plane, of means for creating a suction above the sheet to counteract the tendency1 of the sheet to sag.

7. In sheet glass apparatus, wherein a sheet of glass is inovedin a horizontal plane, of means arranged above the sheet and out of contact therewith for creating a suction to counteract the naturai tendency of the` sheet to sag.

8. In sheet glass apparatus, means for drawing a sheet of glass in a vertical position from a source of molten glass, a roll over which the sheet may be bent into a horizontal plane, means cooperating with the roll to create a tension on said sheet, and means for reducing the air pressure above said sheet.

Signed at Toledo, in the county of Lucas, and State of Chio, this 2nd day of December,1924.

ENOCH T. FERNGREN. 

